Agricultural implement and ramp attachment system

Abstract

An agricultural implement for mounting on a U-shaped foundation frame supported on wheels for travel over a ground surface where the foundation frame includes first and second laterally spaced mounting beams fixed to and extending from a base. The implement is configured to perform an agricultural operation, to rest on the ground surface when in an idle position, and to attach to the foundation frame when in an operating position. The implement comprises a rigid implement portion configured to be attached to the first and second mounting beams at first and second beam locations remote from the base such that the first and second mounting beams are prevented from moving laterally with respect to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An agricultural implement for mounting on a U-shaped foundation frame supported on wheels for travel over a ground surface where the foundation frame includes first and second laterally spaced mounting beams fixed to and extending from a base, wherein the implement is configured to perform an agricultural operation, to rest on the ground surface when in an idle position, and to attach to the foundation frame when in an operating position, and wherein the implement comprises a rigid implement portion configured to be attached to the first and second mounting beams at first and second beam locations remote from the base such that the first and second mounting beams are prevented from moving laterally with respect to each other. 
     
     
         2 . The implement of  claim 1  comprising first and second beam attachment mechanisms adapted to be mounted to the corresponding first and second mounting beams at the corresponding first and second beam locations, and first and second implement attachment mechanisms mounted on the rigid implement portion at locations corresponding to the first and second beam attachment mechanisms. 
     
     
         3 . The implement of  claim 2  comprising an implement support assembly configured to support the implement on the ground surface when in the idle position, and wherein the implement support assembly comprises an implement moving mechanism operative, when the foundation frame is in a loading position, to move the implement vertically such that the first implement attachment mechanism bears against the first beam attachment mechanism and the second implement attachment mechanism bears against the second beam attachment mechanism, and such that a weight of the implement is transferred from the ground surface to the foundation frame. 
     
     
         4 . The implement of  claim 3  wherein the beam attachment mechanisms and the implement attachment mechanisms comprise plates defining mounting holes, and wherein the implement is attached to the first and second mounting beams by bolts through the holes in the plates. 
     
     
         5 . The implement of  claim 3  wherein the beam attachment mechanisms and the implement attachment mechanisms comprise cooperating latch mechanisms and wherein the rigid implement portion is attached to the first and second mounting beams when the first implement attachment mechanism bears against the first beam attachment mechanism to engage a first latch mechanism and the second implement attachment mechanism bears against the second beam attachment mechanism to engage a second latch mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The implement of  claim 3  wherein the implement moving mechanism moves the implement downward so that the first implement attachment mechanism bears downward against the first beam attachment mechanism and the second implement attachment mechanism bears downward against the second beam attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The implement of  claim 6  wherein implement moving mechanism is operative to raise the support assembly off the ground surface when the weight of the implement is wholly transferred from the ground surface to the foundation frame. 
     
     
         8 . The implement of  claim 3  configured such that when the foundation frame is in the loading position at least a portion of the implement is between and above the first and second mounting beams. 
     
     
         9 . The implement of  claim 1  wherein the agricultural operation the implement configured to perform is one of seeding a crop, cultivating a field surface, spraying liquid chemicals on a crop, and transporting harvested crop. 
     
     
         10 . An agricultural implement apparatus for mounting on a U-shaped foundation frame supported on wheels for travel over a ground surface where the foundation frame includes a base beam and first and second substantially parallel and laterally spaced mounting beams fixed to and extending in a like direction from corresponding first and second ends of the base beam, the apparatus comprising:
 an operating implement configured to perform an agricultural operation and including a rigid structural member;   a support assembly configured to support the operating implement in an idle position on the ground surface;   wherein the rigid structural member is configured to be attached to the first and second side beams at corresponding first and second beam locations remote from the base beam such that the first and second mounting beams are substantially prevented from moving laterally with respect to each other.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  comprising first and second beam attachment mechanisms adapted to be mounted on the corresponding first and second mounting beams at fixed beam locations and first and second implement attachment mechanisms mounted on the rigid structural member at locations corresponding to the first and second beam attachment mechanisms. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  comprising an implement moving mechanism operative, when the foundation frame is in a loading position, to move the implement vertically from the idle position such that the first implement attachment mechanism bears against the first beam attachment mechanism and the second implement attachment mechanism bears against the second beam attachment mechanism and such that a weight of the implement is transferred from the ground surface to the foundation frame. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the beam attachment mechanisms and the implement attachment mechanisms comprise plates defining mounting holes, and wherein the implement is attached to the first and second mounting beams by bolts through the holes in the plates. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the beam attachment mechanisms and the implement attachment mechanisms comprise cooperating latch mechanisms and wherein the implement is attached to the first and second mounting beams when the first implement attachment mechanism bears against the first beam attachment mechanism to engage a first latch mechanism and the second implement attachment mechanism bears against the second beam attachment mechanism to engage a second latch mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the implement moving mechanism moves the implement downward so that the first implement attachment mechanism bears downward against the first beam attachment mechanism and the second implement attachment mechanism bears downward against the second beam attachment mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the implement moving mechanism is operative to raise the support assembly off the ground surface when the weight of the implement is wholly transferred from the ground surface to the foundation frame. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10  configured such that when the foundation frame is in the loading position at least a portion of the implement is between and above the first and second mounting beams. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein the agricultural operation the implement is configured to perform is one of seeding a crop, cultivating a field surface, spraying liquid chemicals on a crop, and transporting harvested crop material. 
     
     
         19 . An implement operating system comprising:
 a foundation frame;   a plurality of wheels supporting the foundation frame for travel on a ground surface;   an implement configured to rest on the ground surface when in an idle position;   a ramp member attached to one of the foundation frame and the implement, the ramp member including an upward sloping bearing surface;   a support member attached to the other of the foundation frame and the implement;   wherein the implement and the foundation frame are configured such that when the foundation frame is maneuvered to an implement loading position with respect to the implement in the idle position, the implement is connectable to the foundation frame and movable to an operating position supported by the foundation frame where the selected implement is connectable to an implement control system operative to control implement functions, and where the steering and drive controls are operative to move and steer the foundation frame and selected implement along the travel path;   wherein when the foundation frame is in the implement loading position the support member is aligned with the ramp member and the implement is moved to the operating position by moving the foundation frame and implement toward each other such that the support member bears against the bearing surface of the ramp member and exerts an upward force on the implement and as the foundation frame and implement move toward each other the support member moves along the bearing surface of the ramp member such that the implement moves upward to the operating position.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein:
 the ramp member is attached to the implement and comprises a substantially horizontal flat portion extending from an implement end thereof to a midpoint thereof, and an inclined portion sloping upward from the midpoint, and wherein a bottom surface of the sloping inclined portion provides the bearing surface of the ramp member; 
 the support member is attached to the foundation frame; and 
 the support member bears against the bottom surface of the inclined portion of the ramp member. 
 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  comprising:
 first and second support members attached to corresponding first and second sides of the foundation frame; 
 corresponding first and second parallel ramp members attached to the implement; 
 wherein when the foundation frame is in the implement loading position with respect to the implement, the inclined portion of each ramp member slopes upward toward the foundation frame; 
 wherein as the foundation frame and implement move toward each other the first and second support members bear against the bottom surfaces of the inclined portions of the corresponding first and second ramp members as the implement moves toward the operating position. 
 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein:
 the ramp member is attached to the foundation frame and comprises a substantially horizontal flat portion extending from a frame end thereof to a midpoint thereof, and an inclined portion sloping downward from the midpoint, and wherein a top surface of the sloping inclined portion provides the bearing surface of the ramp member; 
 the support member is attached to the implement; and 
 the support member bears against a top surface of the inclined portion of the ramp member. 
 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  comprising:
 first and second parallel ramp members attached to corresponding first and second sides of the foundation frame; 
 corresponding first and second support members attached to the implement; 
 wherein when the foundation frame is in the implement loading position with respect to the implement, the inclined portion of each ramp member slopes downward toward the implement; 
 wherein as the foundation frame and implement move toward each other the first and second support members bear against the top surfaces of the inclined portions of the corresponding first and second ramp members as the implement moves toward the operating position. 
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  comprising a third ramp member attached to the foundation frame parallel to the first and second ramp members, and a corresponding third support member attached to the implement and configured to bear against the top surface of the inclined portion of the third ramp member as the implement moves toward the operating position. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 20  wherein each support member comprises a support wheel configured to bear against and roll along the bearing surface of the corresponding ramp member, and a support surface adjacent to the support wheel configured such that as the support wheel rolls along the bearing surface of the corresponding ramp member the support surface is removed from the corresponding ramp member. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein as the implement moves into the operating position, each support wheel rolls onto the flat portion of the corresponding ramp member and when the implement is in the operating position, each support wheel is beyond the flat portion of the corresponding ramp member, and each support surface bears against the flat portion of the corresponding ramp member to support the implement in the operating position. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 19  comprising an extendable connection actuator attached to the foundation frame and releasably attachable to the selected implement and operative to exert a force on the foundation frame and selected implement to move the selected implement to the operating position. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 19  comprising a circular guide aperture defined in one of the foundation frame and the selected implement, and a conical guide member extending from the other of the foundation frame and the selected implement, wherein the guide member and the guide aperture are configured such that as the selected implement moves toward the operating position, the guide member enters the guide aperture, and when the selected implement is in the operating position the guide member substantially fills the guide aperture. 
     
     
         29 . A system for loading granular material into a fill opening of a bin, the system comprising:
 a conveyor mounted on wheels for movement along a ground surface, the conveyor including an upper conveyor discharge and a lower conveyor intake;   a conveyor control system operative to move and steer the conveyor and to selectively raise and lower the conveyor intake and the conveyor discharge;   a location system connected to the conveyor control system and operative to guide the conveyor to a bin loading position where the conveyor discharge is oriented to discharge into the bin fill opening and the conveyor intake is oriented to receive granular material from an incoming transport vehicle.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29  wherein the location system is further operative to guide the conveyor to a bin unloading position where the conveyor intake is oriented to receive granular material from a bin discharge opening and the conveyor discharge is oriented to discharge granular material into an outgoing transport vehicle. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the location system comprises a global positioning satellite receiver mounted on the conveyor and operative to determine a conveyor discharge location of the conveyor discharge and a conveyor intake location of the conveyor intake, and wherein a bin fill location of the bin fill opening and a bin discharge location of the bin discharge opening are programmed into the location system. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein bin fill and discharge locations of a plurality of bins are programmed into the location system and the location system is operative to guide the conveyor to the bin loading and unloading positions with respect to each bin. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the location system comprises a bin fill homing device mounted adjacent to the bin fill opening and a bin discharge homing device mounted adjacent to the bin discharge opening, and a conveyor discharge homing device mounted adjacent to the conveyor discharge and a conveyor intake homing device mounted adjacent to the conveyor intake.